Speaking in tongues?

Question

I believe speaking in tongues means you are understood by all who hear you no matter their language. Lots of people have interpreted speaking in tongues to essentially mean people will generally not understand you.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Got to go with the Word. Your on the right track.

Answer 2

Speaking in tongues is the ability, given by God, to speak in a different language, not known to the speaker. It may or may not be understood by the hearers.

In Acts chapter 2, verses 1 - 12, we have the first instance in the Bible where people spoke in tongues. On that occasion, there were people around who spoke various languages, and understood what those who were speaking in tongues were saying.

I speak in tongues, and know a lot of people who do, and I do not understand the languages they are speaking in when they do, nor what I am saying when I do. The Bible explains that when a person speaks in tongues, their spirit is praying to God. (I Corinthians 14:2, 4, 14) This is a tremendous way God has given, available to all Christians, to pray effectively. A person can be concerned about something, and not know the best way to pray about it, but express their concern in praying in tongues, and know that God will take care of the situation.

In ! Corinthians 13, a chapter which focus on love, it starts out with "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels," so this may indicate that some languages a person may speak when speaking in tongues, may actually be languages spoken in heaven by the angels. (Or, it may be that that verse is simply an analogy, emphasizing that without love we are nothing, no matter what tongues we may speak in, because love is the most important thing.)

Sometimes someone in a church meeting speaks forth a message in tongues. This is called the "gift of tongues." (Usually the audience also doesn't know that language, but there may be some present who do.) When someone speaks a message like that in a meeting, the message needs to be interpreted. The gift of interpretation is another spiritual gift God gives, which enables a person to interpret what someone has said when speaking in tongues. When someone does this, then the people listening, of course, can understand the message, even if no one there knew that language.

I'm not sure from your question if you have given your life to Christ or not. I'll include some links below, about that, as well as a link with more information relevant to your question. The important thing is for a person to give their life to Christ, and start a friendship with Him. Speaking in tongues is only one aspect of what God has available for a person after that. (There may also be counterfeit tongues, so it's really important to become a Christian first, and be protected from that!)

I trust these points will help explain your question.

Answer 3

I think your view in narrow.

I have witnessed both the speaking in other languages that one has not learned (known human languages to witness to unbelievers) (in this case a no Arabic speaking American who witnessed and professed Yahshua to the Arabs in Lebanon)

And I've witnessed the speaking out in an unknown tongue (it didn't sound like babbling but actually had all the characteristics of a real language) followed immediately by an interpreter who spoke in English with the same cadence and repeating in the same places that which was spoken by the person speaking tongues. This is a proper way for this to happen if there is no interpreter then one should not speak in tongues.

Because something is out of your experience do not discount it.

Answer 4

Do you have the gift of speaking in tongues? I do, and there is so much to this, most so many dont undersatnd. There are tongues for when a person is to get up front and give a message to all that are there, and when this happens, there is to be an interpreter there to give it back in the language we understand.
But, when God is speaking to us personally, we dont need an interpreter, He wil tell us what it means, be it right then or later. He tells us ppl to pray for, etc. Much revelation comes there.
WHen God speaks to us in His heavenly language and we speak it back, God says noone hears it, jus tus and Him, not even the angels here or the devil. This is why He created it for it to be something that is for just US and Him. that way the devil cant even hear our prayers and try to mess them up.
This point of view I share is Biblical Sometimes we dont know what to pray for or how, and God wil tell us in His language so only we will know. what a gift. THe devil will not know and try to put his phony spin on it. If all understood, what good would it be.
These are messages God gives to certain ppl, be it in public or private. BUt only public messages given to a group will need an interpreter. Hope this helps you.

Answer 5

Tongues first of all is a gift and

NOT

the evidence of being infilled. Some persons have this gift but not all. If a person can speak in tongues and no one can interpret, he or she is to keep quiet and talk to God quietly. Paul wrote that. Remember, only

SOME

persons have this gift. What you usually hear is gibber-jabber and not tongues. By other tongues the Bible is referring to earthly languages and

NOT

some

SO_CALLED

heavenly language or speech.

Answer 6

Well, I believe speaking in tongues is simply just what it says. Speaking in tongues, or different languages. When the disciples were told to go and preach the gospel, Jesus gave them the gift of tongues. Why do you think that was? They had to speak to people who spoke different languages! Why else would you need to speak in "tongues?"

Answer 7

public ministry tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to edify the church - it is speaking in a language that the speaker nor usually anyone present understands so it needs interpretation (another gift of the Holy Spirit).. and not everyone operates in the gift

occasionally there could be someone in the audience who may have natural understanding of the language spoken if the words are those of his own national dialect - but they only confirm that what is interpreted is correct, and therefore can assure those in the congregation that it is a function that is of God.

the gift of tongues & interpretation is not to be used to "preach the message of the gospel" .. but its to bring out a inspired nugget of truth that the speaker might not otherwise have thought of saying in his regular mode of preaching.

---

on the other hand, private devotional tongues, the kind that the apostle Paul said that he spoke more than all those at corinth, is given of the Spirit to communicate in an unknown unlearned language in praise and thanksgiving unto God, and to edify oneself - so it needs no interpretation.. and anyone can operate in it.

from among those who have a "private prayer language" will likely be given the gift of public tongues and / or interpretation.. but again, not all will. just in the same way that not all are preachers, or teachers in the church.
.

Answer 8

Well if you spoke English and your gift of tongues was manifested in Japanese How would anyone but a Japanese understanding person understand what is being said? See where we are going?
It is hard to understand a language you have not learned. Yet God can surely and have allowed humans to speak languages unlearned.... yep!

Answer 9

I believe speaking in Tongues is spoken of three time in the bible... The Tongues in Acts speaks of exactly what you are speaking of. People hearing you in their own langueage... This is a corperate version of Tongues that edifies the entire body.

There is personal Tongues, as laid out in Corinthians, that edifies your spirit.

Then there is Tongues that is directive to a situation. (ie. you are in China, never speaking any chineese other than asking for Kunk Pu Chicken at your local Chineese restauraunt)

Answer 10

Speaking a certain "tongue" means speaking a certain language. People who could not otherwise understand you would understand you if you spoke their "tongue." This is how Christianity was spread to other cultures.

Answer 11

Speaking in tonques and interpretation of the language are two seperate gifts. It's possible for a believer to have both or none of it.

So, many people wouldn't understand what is being spoken.